Philadelphia Almshouse On Fire

On the night of the 12th of February, 1885, the Philadelphia Almshouse’s portion of the institution set apart for the insane burned to the ground. Of the 685 lunatics confined there, many went missing and 28 died.

Many of the inmates were found wandering in different parts of the city, some nearly naked.

The report that the streets were full of escaped maniacs caused much alarm in West Philadelphia.